News

Support Relay for Life from home

Over the last few years, many AmCham EU staff and members have participated in Relay for Life, an initiative to raise funds for the fight against cancer. For 24 hours, participants take turns walking the track, as a symbol of the constant battle of patients and their families. This is a cause close to the hearts of many of us. Every year, we walk to honour those who have survived, those who are fighting and those who are no longer with us, including our dear colleague Andreas Galanakis.

While this year’s Relay for Life is cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the fight against cancer continues. Therefore we would like to invite you to support research and make a donation. All funds will go to the Fondation contre le cancer/Stichting tegen Kanker. Find out more about how your donation can make a real difference.

American Hour: A transatlantic approach to economic recovery

In our latest weekly members-only online fireside chat series called American Hour that took place on Thursday, 30 April, we had the pleasure of welcoming David Meale, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade Policy and Negotiations, US Department of State. Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU provided opening remarks and noted that: 'We believe that a transatlantic approach based on common values should be the foundation on which to build the economic recovery of both the EU and US economies. This crisis highlights that any global emergency requires free trade and investment.'

Florian Wastl (Mars Inc.), Vice-Chair, Policy Group & Vice-Chair, Trade and External Affairs Committee, AmCham EU moderated the discussion.

AmCham EU Executive Council members virtually meet Commissioners Gentiloni and Breton

The Executive Council of AmCham EU held two virtual meetings with top EU officials. The group brings together senior business executives responsible for the European operations of some of AmCham EU’s member companies. The group is composed of 20 European CEOs and chaired by Aongus Hegarty, President International Markets, Dell Technologies. Read more about the Executive Council by following this link.

On Tuesday, 28 April 2020 the group met with:

• Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for Economy; and
• Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market.

AmCham EU publishes its cross-sectoral position on the EU-UK future relationship

The EU and the UK are currently in the midst of negotiations of their future relationship beyond the end of the current transition period. AmCham EU members have compiled a position paper, comprising horizontal and sectoral recommendations for negotiators. As American businesses heavily invested in the EU and the UK, AmCham EU stands for an ambitious and forward-looking EU-UK relationship, built on mutual trust and cooperation.

Transatlantic cooperation crucial to ease the economic fallout of COVID-19

Last week, for the fourth edition of its ‘Town Hall’ for members, AmCham EU connected with Barton J. Putney, Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs, Erland Herfindahl, Senior US Trade Representative and Michael Lally, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs from the US Mission to the EU.

The guest speakers shared insights on the COVID-19 emergency from the US Mission’s perspective and highlighted the importance of cooperation on both sides of the Atlantic in order to ease the economic fallout as well as to fight the spread of fake news related to COVID-19.

American Hour: A Business view on COVID-19

On Thursday, 23 April, during our American Hour online series for members, we discussed the business view on COVID-19 and welcomed a panel of distinguished US business leaders: Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs, US Chamber of Commerce, Nancy McLernon, President and CEO, Global Business Alliance and Peter Robinson, President and CEO, US Council for International Business.

During the chat moderated by Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, she noted that: 'As like-minded powers, the business community counts on the EU and the US to work together, with the international community, in the fight against COVID-19. Now is the time to demonstrate the values we share in Europe, across the Atlantic and with the rest of the global community.'

Solidarity, Single Market, and international cooperation key to overcome COVID-19

The global COVID-19 pandemic is shaping up to be the societal challenge of our times. It has already claimed the lives of more than 175,000 people, with over 2.5 million confirmed cases. This severe health threat is further compounded by the economic and societal fallout of the emergency. The efforts of the EU and its Member States were critical for the European response to the COVID-19 crisis. An unprecedented challenge calls for an unprecedented response, and with the health, social and economic measures taken, the EU rose to the occasion. AmCham EU calls on the EU to continue its efforts to mitigate the economic impact of the emergency. 

Senior business leaders: We need a strong Europe

This week, 23 CEOs and Presidents of major companies and industry associations in Europe have published a common statement ahead of this week’s EU Heads of State and Government videoconference. Among the signatories are several members of AmCham EU’s Executive Council. The senior business executives call on political leaders to support common European solutions to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. They stress how a stronger Europe, with the Single Market as a central instrument, is needed more than ever. The statement notes that: ‘In our daily business operations, we see that the response to the current crisis is not less Europe, but more Europe, and it starts with our common European market.’ Read it in full here.

Defining critical infrastructure and maintaining global supply chains

On 17 April, AmCham EU sent a letter addressed to Commissioner Thierry Breton calling for a coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis with regard to defining critical sites and infrastructure and maintaining global supply chains.

Our companies operate in a large variety of sectors, many of which are affected by the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Our member companies are facing new challenges as they adapt to the current circumstances. Maintaining a reliable supply of products and services is necessary for European citizens and the economy. Our members believe that clarity is essential to minimise any disruptions in the production and delivery of critical products and services.